Forward In Time

Chapter Twenty-One

Tonraq, Desna, and Eska stand outside P'Li's prison waiting for Lord Zuko and Druk's return. Druk lands on the ground heavily.

“Did you see Zaheer?” Tonraq asked.

“The only thing I saw was a snowstorm heading our way.” Zuko replied.

Tonraq stares at the snowstorm ahead, “That's not a snowstorm, it's him!”

Tonraq and the group begins running toward the snowstorm Zaheer created to cover his snowcat. Zaheer continuously airbends to provide his group with some cover. The snowcat jumps out and Zaheer and Ming-Hua jumps off the snowcat afterward, running toward Tonraq's group.

“I put you away once, Zaheer, and I'm going to do it again!” Tonraq says.

Tonraq waterbends a punch and an ice block at Zaheer, who dodges both attacks. He attacks Zaheer again, which he manages to dodge again before sweeping Tonraq over. 

Desna and Eska begin attacking Ming-Hua with multiple ice shards at a rapid pace, which Ming-Hua dodges. The twins create a field of iceberg spikes, but Ming-Hua maneuvers through them with her water arms before she freezes the pair in ice blocks. She jumps up and breaks the ice on the ground with her waterbending before she glides down to P'Li's cell. 

A White Lotus sentry firebends at her, but she counters back, defeating him with little trouble. Another sentry attempts to waterbend at Ming-Hua, but she quickly strikes him. She freezes P'Li's prison cell's door, causing it to fall off of its hinges.

“Ming-Hua.” 

“Let's get you out of here.” Ming-Hua said.

Ming-Hua waterbends the metal chains which restrains P'Li. P'Li stands up, removing the cuff on her forehead, revealing her ‘third eye’ tattoo. She clings onto Ming-Hua's back, who uses two ice axes to climb P'Li and herself up to the surface.

“We could have just taken the elevator.” P’Li says. Ming-Hua continues to climb in silence, “Show-off.”

After the two of them reach the surface, Druk firebends at them. P'Li redirects the fire.

“I've waited thirteen years to feel this warm.” P'Li easily tames the fire before using her combustion ability to blast the dragon away. 

Lord Zuko dodges a rock from Ghazan and retaliating with his firebending, before dodging again for another strike. Ghazan deflects Lord Zuko's blast before using a rock to strike Lord Zuko down. 

Tonraq tries to attack Zaheer, but the airbender continues dodging the blows. The fight ends with P'Li using her combustion on Tonraq. The criminals make their escape; Lord Zuko staring at their snowcat as it departs. 

Zaheer and P'Li embrace each other, “I thought I'd never see you again.” P’Li says

“I've never doubted it.” Zaheer kisses P'Li while Ghazan glares at them.

“Really. Right now?”
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Tu opens the entrance door to the family’s house, “I've got them. These passports should get you into the Upper Ring.”

“Awesome! Tu, you're the best cousin a guy can have.” The rest of the family looks on with saddened looks, “And my other cousins as well. Yeah. Yeah, you're all the best.”

Mako takes the passports, “Thanks. I know this wasn't easy.”

“It's such a shame you two must leave so soon.” Yin said.

“I wish we could stay. But if it's true the Earth Queen is forcing airbenders into her army, we have to do something about it.”

“I love you both. Come visit again.” She hugs her long lost grandsons, who hug her back.